Steaming apparatus.



No'. 843,510. 'y PATBNTBD PEB. 5, 1907.

W. G. WILLIAMS. STBAMING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

THE NoRRIs PETERS co., wA'sHmarcN. n. c.

N0.843,51o. l PATENTED PBB.5,1907.^1 I

W. 'G. WILLIAMS.v

STBAMING AIPARATUS.-

APPLICATION FILED .TUNE 13, 1905.

` 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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"UNTTED STATES rarnnr orrrcn.

WALTER Cr. WILLIAMS, OF THOMPSONVILLE, CONNECTICUT, ASSTGNOR OF ELEVEN-T WENTIETHS TO CHARLES J. MCLAIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

sTEAmlNe APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

atented Feb. 5 1907.

Application filed June 13,1905. Serial No. 265,101.

Be it known that 1, WALTER G. WILLIAMS, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at Tiiompsonville, in the county of Hartford and Stareof Connecticut, have invented cert-ain new and useful Improvements inSteaming Apparatus, and T do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and eX- act descripiion of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inapparatus for subjecting fabrics of various kinds to a steaming process,and more particularly to means for supporting said fabrics while theyare undergoing ,such a process.

My improvements are applicable to the steaming of printed yarns as areused in the manufacture of tapestry carpets after said yarns have beenprimed in the usual manner, and T will therefore hereinafter refer moreparticularly to the steaming of such yarns, without, however, limitingthe use of my appliances to such purpose.

Yarns which are to be printed are generally wound around a drum in athin continuous and uniform layer, preferably of the thickness of onethread, and liquid coloringmaiter, thickened by the addition of flour,paste, or similar substances, is then applied thereo by color-wheels instreaks running parallel with the axis of the drum, so as to give to theparticular thread which is being printed the different colors and shadeswhich the respective paa'tern of carpet to be produced calls for, thethread after being wound showing the same succession of shades andcolors in every length equal to the circumference of the drum. Eitherduring such printing operation or immediately thereafter and while theyarn is still on the drum the color is further forced into it by meansof scrapers, either operaled automatically or by the hands of theoperators. These manipulations serve to distribute the color in anappro: iii1aely uniform manner over and through the yarn g but itrequires the mechanical action of steam upon the yarn and the colors tothoroughly iiX said colors, so that they shall not be liable to bewashed out during the subsequent scouring of the yarn. For that purpose1 put the hanks of yarn as they are taken 'from the drum and while theyare still in a moist condition upon the horiably placed one above theother, and while inclosing the frames in a suitable chamber or housing 1conduct into said housing and maintain therein for about half an hoursteam under about five pounds pressure, afterward scouring the yarns,drying it, straightening it out, and putting it in a setting-frame, soas to place the various threads which are to be woven into the carpetinto their proper relative positions, after which the weaving itselftakes place. To obtain proper results, it is of lthe utmost importancethat the yarns wln'le so undergoing a steaming process be heaeduniformly throughout, so that its texture and its length be not affectedby the steaming` process or by contact with the frame supporting it,that the running of different colors into each other be guarded against,and that any waler produced by the condensaion of the steam be carriedoff promptly and without being permitted to come in further contact withthe yarn.

One of the numerous objects of my invention is to provide apeculiarly-consructed frame for supporting the yarn which will readilymeet these requirements and in addition shall be of simple construction,durable, and compact, so as to permit of utilizing the space in thesteaming-room for the steaming of the greatest possible quantity of yarnat a time.

` Another object of the invention is the construction of a frame whichwill permit steam to pass entirely around the yarn which is supportedthereon when said frame is positioned within a suitable housing-as, forinstance, a steaming-box.

invention consists of certain other novel constructions, combinations,and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fr lly described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particlilarly pointedont in the claims hereto appended.

ln the drawings, Eig1 re l is a plan view of a steaming-frame constacted in accordance with the present invention. -Fig 2 is a longitudinalvertical section of a pl'rality of steaming-frames in theirproperrelative Apositions. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view l taken online 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. e is a longitul dinal vertical section of thesteaming-chamzontal frames of peculiar construction, suit- With theseand other objects in view the TOO ber, showing on the lett-h and sidehalf of the carriage of `my improved steaming-frames in side view and onthe right-hand side the other hall1 of saidv carriage in longitrdinalsection. Fig. is a longitiV dinal sectional view of a steaming-chamberor holV sing and a top plan view of a carriage with steamingiramesplaced thereon as depicted in Fig. 4l.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the steaming-chamber, theleft-hand portion showing an end view and the right-h and side avertical section of the carriage. Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentarylongitudinal sectional view oi the steaming-frame depicted in Figs. 4 to6. Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view ol:another embodiment ol the present invention..

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates longitzV dinalgirders, which are preferably arranged parallel and made of angle-iron,and 2 2 two `end connections between said longitudinal girders 1. Acorr?.- gated or iluted member or plate is carried by the girdors 1. Thecorr;` gated or lted member or plate 3, which is szpported by means ofthe girders 1, is preferably constructed of sheet metal, such asal':.,;.miniu1n. Aluminium is preferably i'sed ior the reason that itresists the action of the acids that are contained in the color of thesubstances generally employed in dyeing yarns. The member or plate 3 iscorrugated or i'luted, so as to have the upper edges 4 ot saidcorriisgations, upon which the hanks of yarn are intended to rest,terminate in narrow ridges which rin substantially at right angles tosaid gird ers 1, the walls of the corr'zgations being preferably made toslope downward abr;iptly, so as to readily and promptly carry downwardfrom the yarn in condensed steam er other liquid to deposit the saineiipon the portions 6 of the member or plate 3 between said corrugations.

7 is a steaming-box or housing in which the steaming-iframes areinserted, said box being constructed in the usual manner, so as to admitsteam at the bottom and discharge it at the top, its walls coming withina few inches of the edges of the frame. A hank of yarn resting ipon sucha frame is indicated by 8, and as ridges 4- in the present instanceextend above the longitudinal parallel girders 1, upon whiclrthey aresrpported, srch ridges 4, however, at the same time being placed beneaththe lower edges ot the longitudinal girders of the steaming-framedirectly above the same, it will be seen that there are longitudinalspaces lett between the girders of adjoining steaming-frames at the sameelevation with the hank of yarn, so as to permit free and iininterri-`pted circi lation of steam to and through sich yarn and laterally along`the sloping sides of the corrrgations, as well as along the i pper andlower surface. The ridges 4 are placed closer toi l l i gether near theends of the steaming-frame. The horizontal corrugated member or plate 3has its ridges 4 formed closer together near the ends, so as to provideadeqrate slpports there for the curved portions of the hank, it beingadvisable to lay the hank upon the frame in the form shown in Fig. 1, soas to avoid parts of the hanks which are colored differently touchingeach other. The end connections 2 preferably made of greater depth thanthe longitl dinal girders, so as to permit of s1.pporti1ig thesuccesssive steaming-frames one irpon the other, suitable feet 8 beingprovided on the inder side of the various cross connections 2, iittinginto corresponding sockets 9 on the izpper srf'aces of the crossconnections on the steaming-frame directly underneath. The girders aresecured to the cross connections 2 near their base. The bottom of theend or cross connections 2 ot an 1Lipper frame rests on the grooved topof the end connections of the next frame underneath.

Referring to the lembodiment depicted in Figs. 4 to 6, 10 is a carriagecomprising axles 11, wheels 12, journaled upon said axles 11 andtraveling on rails 13. Yokes 14 are supported on said axles, andlongitudinal stringers 15 are secured. to said 'yokes Frames 1.6 arepositioned upon the stringers 15, each of said frames 16 being formed,preferably, of T-iron and are substantially U- shaped. At regularintervals shelves 17 are secured to the trame, their length being equalto the width of said trame. The shelves 17 are preferably made ofangle-iron.

1n the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 to 6 I employ steaming-'frames 1S,which are of the same general structure as the frames shown in theembodiment depicted in Figs. 1. to 3. Each of the steaming-frames 18comprises parallel longitudinal girders 19, which, as is the case withthe girders depicted in the embodiment in Figs. 1 to 3, are preferablyformed of angle-irons. Owing to the angle-iron structure oi' thegirders, they are adapted to come to rest upon the horizontal flanges ofthe shelves 17. The corrugated member or plate 20 issupported byparallel girders 19. The corrugated member or plate 2O and the parallelgirders 19 constitute a drip-pan. In this instance a corrugated memberor plate 20 is preferably formed of' the same material as member orplate 3 for sim il ar reasons.

The upper edges 21a of the corrugations 21, upon which the hanks oi yarnare to be placed, terminate in n arrow ridges, the upper walls 22 of theraised or corrugated portions being preferably made to slope downwardfor the same reason, as hereinbefore specified, for similarlyconstructing the corrugated portions of the member or plate 3. Anycondensed steam or other liquid will be deposited upon the portions 23of the drip-pan belOO ICS

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tween-its corrugations. The lower surfaces of the extreme upper portionsof said ridges preferably `come even with 'the upper surfaces of girders19, while the portions 23 of the frame constituting the pan engage thehorizontal flanges of the girders 19, so as to have the vertical flangesof said gird ers form walls closing laterally the ends of hoods 24,formed beneath the walls 22.

25 is a steam box or chamber into which carriage 10 is run after theyarn has been put on the steaming-frame and the latter has been placedupon shelves 17.

26 is a pipe with a suitable valve for admitting steam to the bottom ofthe steaming box or chamber.

27 is an outlet-pipe, and 2S a safety-valve.

The vcarriage is positioned so as to permit of free flow of steam upwardaround the various frames and the latter being placed at sufficientdistances to provide horizontal spaces between the girders and thedrip-pan of the steaming-frames, through which the steam may circulateinto the hanks of yarn 2Q and from which it may enter upward into hoods24. The position of one of the hanls upon one of my steam-frames isindicated in dotted lines, Fig. 5.

lVhile the corrugations 21, along the eentral portions ofsteaming-frames 18 are shown to be placed parallel with each other andat right angles to the parallel longitudinal girders 19, I prefer toplace the corrugations or ridges near the ends of said frames inpositions deflected with reference to the positions of aforesaid ridges,so as to provide adequate supports there for the curved portions of thehanks, it being necessary to Vcurve their ends, so as to keep differentportions of the banks which may be colored from contact with each other,and a suitable arrangement in that respect is shown on the right-handside of Fig. 5, in which the corrugations 21 are shown to be madecurving, with their concaved sides 'facing the nearest end of thesteaming -boardl The ridges formed by corrugating the member or plate 2Omay be straight, but deflected with refer'- ence to said central ridges,as shown at 212 in the left-hand portion of Fig. 5. l prefer to placeVshelves 17 upon the frame of the carriage, so that all steaming-framesmay be withdrawn from the steam-chamber simultaneously and that thus allthe hanls ma;T be exposed to the steam for the same period; but frames16 might instead be made stationary within chamber 25 in case provisionbe made to readily empty said chamber of steam, and in that casewheel-supports for carriage 1() might be dispensed with. The advantageof my improved construction above described are manifold, particularlyas compared with the appliances for steaming printed yarns heretofore ingeneral use. Thus by making the corrugated-metal member or plate 20,which supports the yarn, form a hood or hoods open only at the bottom Isecure there the continuous presence of a body of steam, which will heatthe upper surface of said hood sufficiently to thoroughly heat the yarnplaced vabove it and readily evaporate any liquid that may become lodgedupon such surfaces.

By supporting my improved steamingframes within the steaming-boxesindependent of each other 1 am enabled in case only a limited number of'frames should be required to be used to provide eXtra large steamspacesbetween the frames and very free circulation of the steam along andaround the hanks of yarn both from the spaces along the sides and theends of the steaming-frames. The upper. .edges of the vertical flangesof girders may be lower than the upper edges of the ridges 21a, so as topermit of free passage of steam underneath the hanks of yarn throughoutthe full width of the steamingframes and to prevent contact of the yarnwith lsaid edges when placing it upon the frames or withdrawing ittherefrom and consequent soiling of the yarn.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the steaming-framesof both embodiments comprises a pairof parallel longitudinal girders anda corrugated or fluted member `carried thereby. By employing as thesupporting means for the corrugated member' angle-iron girdersadvantages are obtained, among which may be mentioned the fact that thehorizontal extending portion of the girder constitutes a bracket forsupporting the corrugated member and, as is the case with the embodimentdepicted in Figs. 4 to 7, the vertical portion of the girders constitutethe end structure of the hoods 24. It is also to be noted that by reasonof the peculiar structure of the steaming-frames, both sides of whichare readily accessible to the steam, l prevent the dripping of liquidfrom one hanh upon the one underneath it, and l particularly securethorough heating of said corrugated member or plate, and consequentlyrapid evaporation of any liquid that may be tenuiorarily depositedthereon, I having found in practice that such corrigated members orplate when taken out of the steam-chest are substantially dry and thatowing to the slight contact between the yarn and the ridges on the platethere is virtually no color deposited on said plates, so that they donot even have to be cleaned before being used again. It 'frequentlyhappens that while the yarn is resting on a steamingframe the action ofthe steaming-frame will tend to spread the hank outward toward thelongitudinal edges of the same, and as these edges are apt to becomesoiled when the 1 hanlis are being placed upon the frame much yarn isspoiled in that manner where l the longitudinal girders extend to thesame IOO elevation as the supports of the hank or y closer together nearthe ends of the frame above the same. I avoid this difficulty bypreferably carrying the edges 13, Fig. 1, or 21, Fig. 4, abovelongitudinal girders 1l.

In employing corrugated or fluted sheet metal in the construction of thesteamingframes for supporting the yarn I provide a cheap construction,light in weight andl capable of being readily shaped and assembled, andin making the corrugated sheet constituting the member or plate act as asupport for the yarn and also as a drip-pan for catching the drippings Iobtain a very compact structure, whereby I am enabled to place a largernumber of steaming-frames in a steambox or housing of a given size thanhas been positioned heretofore, thus as far as space as well -as thequantity of steam used for steaming a lia-nk of yarn is concerned and inmaking the steam-frames rest one above the other, as shown, I do awaywith the separate frames for supporting the steam-frames upon thecarriages, as illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6.

It will be noted that in the two embodiments the same general featuresare foundto wit, the angular parallel girders carrying a corrugatedmember constituting the drippan corrugations or ridges of said. Imember,being spaced apart differently at each end than in the central portionthereof. Many other features are common to the structure of thesteaming-frames in both embodiments. It will be unnecessary in view ofthe foregoing description to specifically designate these like features.By reason of the positioning of the ridges at each end of thesteamingframe at an angle to the central ridges, as depicted in Fig. 5,the drip-pan is provided with drains at each end thereof-that is to say,any liquid running off of the hanl; at the ends of the steaming-framemay be discharged at the ends of the drip-pan.

Vhile I have referred to the member or plate in both of the embodimentshereinbefore specifically described as being provided preferably withccrrugatioiis, I do not limit the drip-pan to a corrugated structure, asother means for producing ridges thereon may be einployed-as, forinstance, iii Fig. 8, in which the parallel girders for supporting theplate or member 3a, which carries the substantially U-shaped transversemembers 3b, constituting ridges for supporting the haiik. It isessential that the hank-engaging portion of the ridges in all of theembodiments be not very wide, for the reason that it is desirable thatthe oxygen in the steam be permitted to penetrate to all of the threadsof the hank for preventing the same from decaying.

Vliat I claim isl. A steaming-frame, comprising horizontal girders, andrigid cross-supports carried thereby, said cross-supports being placedthan along` the central portion.

2. The combination of a multiplicity of steaming-frames, one restingabove the other, each frame comprising a corrugated member of sheetmetal, and means for supporting said member extending crosswise withreference to the corrugations,`spaces being left between said supportingmeans at substantially the same elevation in the upper surfaces of thecorrugation and between the corrugated member and said supporting means,for the purpose of permitting full flow of steam along the upper andlower surfaces of the corrugated member.

3. A steaming-frame, comprising a member provided with a series ofridges extending upward therefrom, said member constituting a drip-pan,the under side of said member forming hoods open only at the bottom.

4. An apparatus for steaming yarn, comprising a member provided with aseries of ridges extending upward therefrom, said member forming hoodsopen only at the bottom, a housing around. said steaming-frame, andmeans for introducing steam into said housing and into said hoods andabove the same.

5. In an apparatus for steaming yarns, the combination of asteaming-frame, comprising a member provided with aseries of ridgesextending upward therefrom, said member constituting a drip-pan, theunder side of said member forming hoods open only at the bottom, ahousing around said steaming` frame, means for introducing steam intosaid housing and into said hoods and for circulating said steam aboveand below the same.

6. In an apparatus for steaming yarns, the combination of asteaming-frame, comprising a corrugated member, the cross-sections Ofthe corrugated portions of said member being constructed as hoods closedlaterally by walls placed crosswise with reference thereto, a housingaround said steaining-frame, means for conducting steam into saidhousing` and into said hoods and into the space adjoining the uppersurfaces of said corrugated portions. i

7. In an apparatus for steaming yarns, the

combination of a steaming-frame, comprisinghorizontal girders,`a memberprovided with raised portions, carried by said girders, said memberconstituting a drip-pan7 the raised portions substantially V-shaped incross-section and said portions placed crosswise with reference to saidgirders, said girders serving to close said raised porti-ons laterally,a housing around said steaming-frame, and means for introducing steaminto said housing and into the hoods formed by said raised portions andfor passing steam into the space above and adjoining said raisedportions.

8. A steaming-frame, comprising girders,

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a, member provided with a transverse raised the ends of the eorrugationsof said member portion open at both ends carried by said for formingIhoods. [o girders, said girders serving to close the ends In testimonywhereof I affix my signature of said raised portion for forming a hoodopen in presence of two Witnesses. only at its bottom. VALTER G.VILLIAMS 9. A steaming-frame comprising separate Witnesses: girders, acorrugated or iiuted member car- Wn. J MULLIGAN,

ried by said girders7 and said girders closing THOMAS SOHOFIELD.

